“IT was a good performance, it was not brilliant, but maybe the most mature we’ve played since I was in.”
There was a point in the game in which Virgil van Dijk stepped into midfield, though probably still in front of Everton’s striker, and lashed a ball 50 yards upfield and out for an Everton goalkick. At that point, the Bluenoses sought their moment of retribution for that late winner in the FA Cup. I hope they enjoyed themselves.
But something dawned on me at that moment. This was a player we had paid £75million in the winter, after waiting by the phone all summer in hope Southampton decided they were ready to hand him over — with hindsight, they may be wishing they’d actually driven him up to Melwood themselves.
The thing about him costing the world-record amount for a defender, comfortably The Reds’ biggest outlay on a player, is that sometimes you can feel like you’re always trying to justify the fee. For many, that fee would have been justified when he rose above everybody else to nod past Jordan Pickford in January. For the rest of us though, there has never really been the need to say anything about the fee since he made his first appearance in a red shirt.
That’s because he’s been mostly imperious. The last time he looked less than that was away at Swansea, and it’s probably little coincidence that the rest of the team were so off it that day. Perhaps the only time The Reds have reverted to type since the Dutchman signed.
The thing van Dijk has brought is, as Jürgen Klopp said in the above quotes, a maturity. His presence has seen so many around him step up. He was man of the match today but it was those around him that were the biggest worry heading into the game. Nathaniel Clyne was playing his first game in the senior side since the last day of the 2016-17 season. Ragnar Klavan, who was believed to be still sidelined ahead of the game, was starting at left back.
Clyne was going to get legged by Yannick Bolasie. Similarly, Klavan with Theo Walcott. But barring a few flashes across goal, both dealt with their task with aplomb. Neither looked remotely out of place. Not to say that either were expected to have forgotten how to play football, or be completely unable to function a few yards closer to the touchline, but the defence as a unit looked very solid. Very mature.
Behind them was a man who looks like he can do little wrong at the moment. The ball going back to Loris Karius or being sent into the box no longer causes heart palpitations as it used to. In fact, the German made a game-changing save and looked completely comfortable coming off his line to claim the ball when it looked, as it has in the past, as though he wasn’t the favourite to do so.
He’s starting to look like the man we thought we were getting and it might be because in front of him is a man who we knew to expect quality from.
It’s wrong to put that merely down to one man. Credit must go to van Dijk but also Klopp and the lads who have adapted to have a new man being a dominating presence. Perhaps that comes out of a willingness to be led which has too often been missing. Maybe it’s just that the missing piece was a player with his attributes.
Two clean sheets in a week is nothing to be sniffed at, not when we’ve gone so long feeling like we didn’t know how to keep one. Another one on Tuesday would be glorious, but we can also be realistic about these things.
The defence gives you the foundation to go and attack. The latter bit of that was disjointed today, but the former has rarely looked so much the opposite.
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£75m for a centre back is a lot of money, but since he’s been here it’s like we have another new cb in Lovren, and a new goalkeeper Karius! Suddenly £75m doesn’t seem such a big price!
Liverpool’s upturn in form has coincided with Klopp choosing a No1 and sticking consistently with the same defence. Chopping and changing on a weekly basis doesn’t do anyone any favours and I’m sure Mignolet would have benefitted from Klopp’s change in stance had he been afforded the same opportunity. No such thing as a bad mistake as long as lessons are learned. And that appears to be the case here. But we got there in the end. Rotation should be used very wisely. Back line should remain constant IMO. It’s not rocket science. Up the reds.
Anyone noticed his rows with Henderson? Twice in the last two games he’s pinged a couple of difficult balls to Hendo, who’s then turned around and visibly bollocked him. I know that’s a captain’s job, but it’s quite rare to see him lose his temper with someone individually. Twice in recent succession made me wonder if it’s a thing. Hendo was also having a pretty big one with Klopp in the derby.
Probably reading way too much into this, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he feels a bit under threat as skip. I like him myself but it seems pretty clear to me that Van Dijk is a more natural fit for it. Even in the celebrations at Palace, there was one voice barking “get focused, boys” and it was Big Virg.
Think you’re reading too much into it.
Henderson also did the “stay focused” thing during the City game by the way. He actually is more of a vocal captain than people give him credit for.
Football is life. Your spot on. Anyone would improve alongside VVD.Migs however you out it is awful.never mind the stats. Just look at his presence alone.hes shit. Don’t like saying that but that’s how it is. He’s stealing a living !!
75 million for a Striker or playmaker who helps us score goals would not have raised an eyebrow. The same amount for a Defender that has so obviously helped stop us leaking goals is a bargain.
If youre good enough, youre old enough was the old adage applied to young players being thrown in to the team. Its seems to me that if youre good enough, it doesnt matter the price tag.